Stem cell injection improves vision

The Lancet is reporting on an important new breakthrough in the fight against sight loss. Embryonic stem cell transplants have restored vision to patients registered blind as a result of AMD and Stargardt’s macular dystrophy.

Two patients in the US and one Briton were operated on as part of a global trial by US biotech firm ‘Advanced Cell Technology’ carried out at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Although promising, the researchers said such treatments could still be 10 years away from being available on the NHS.